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For more information contact:
Rebecca Frank, Curriculum Chair at frankre@lavc.edu

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Guidelines

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The Valley College Curriculum Process: The Curriculum Development process at Valley College was developed and agreed upon by the Academic Senate and Administration of the college in 1978. It has served as a model for other colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District and throughout the state. It was revised by joint agreement of the Senate and Administration in Spring 1989. Curriculum is now a function of the Senate [Title 5].

Responsibilities of the Valley College Curriculum Committee:

The Valley College Curriculum Committee (VCCC) acts as an advisory body to the Academic Senate. The VCCC shall be responsible for (1) recommending policies concerning curriculum, general education, graduation requirements, occupational certificate requirements, transfer requirements, academic standards, and related matters; and (2) recommending for approval curricular proposals concerning new courses or programs, and additions, deletions, or changes to existing programs.

Composition of the VCCC:

The committee is chaired by the Vice-President of the Faculty Association and includes:

9 Faculty members at large appointed by the Academic Senate

2 Administrators: the VP of Academic Affairs or designee and one additional administrative representative

The VCCC Role in Curriculum Matters:

The primary responsibility for the detailed evaluation and review of curricula within a discipline should be at the department level. The VCCC addresses itself to problems of an all college nature. The VCCC is responsible for reviewing all curricula for (1) meeting Title 5 criteria, (2) being within college and district guidelines and policies, (3) interdepartmental impact, e.g., mission, goals, and functions. The VCCC recommends to the Academic Senate its decisions regarding new courses and curricula, new programs, the modification or restructuring of existing courses and programs, as well as academic standards, general education prerequisites, and transferability of courses.

The Vice President of Academic Affairs acts as the liaison for the VCCC and requests that proposals for new programs and restructuring of existing programs be placed on its Agenda for formal review. New course proposals and minor modifications of existing programs will be routed to all members of the VCCC and to all Department Chairpersons. All new course proposals and course changes, including changes in prerequisites shall follow the procedures outlined in the Flowchart below. Procedures and policies relating to the VCCC shall be reviewed yearly and revisions made as necessary.

Flowchart for Curricular Requests and Recommendations:

Proposals originate in departments. Each department develops its own internal procedure for processing such proposals in keeping with all college policies.

After the proposal is approved by a majority vote of the department, the Department Chairperson sends the proposal (in hard copy form and electronic form) to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (or that administrator's designee). A department member not concurring with the Department recommendation may request to have a minority report forwarded with the proposal. The Technical Review Subcommittee will review the proposal for completeness and accuracy and will notify the department chair within 10 working days that the proposal is ready for circulation or that changes are necessary.

Copies of new course and program proposals are routed to VCCC members and to all Department Chairpersons for review. The Department Chairpersons have 10 working days to notify the VCCC Chair in writing of any objections or concerns. If no objections or concerns are received, the VCCC Chair will place the proposal on the Agenda of the VCCC for review. The VCCC Chair will notify the Chair of the Department making the proposal of the date when it will appear on the VCCC Agenda. If objections or concerns are received, the VCCC Chair will make them known at the next VCCC meeting so that appropriate action can be taken (e.g., referral to the appropriate subcommittee or a VCCC hearing). The VCCC Chair will notify all concerned parties of this action.

After a proposal is recommended by the VCCC, the Chair will forward copies of that proposal to all members of the Academic Senate, requesting that the proposal be noticed for action at the next meeting and that it be placed on the VCCC Consent Agenda at the next meeting of the Senate.

VCCC recommendations will be placed on the agenda for action at the next scheduled Senate meeting.

Prior to the Senate meeting, any Senator may request that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda for further discussion. Senate will then vote on the Consent Agenda. Following that vote appropriate action will be taken on the remaining items on the Discussion Agenda.

All Curriculum proposals recommended by the Academic Senate will be forwarded to the Vice President of Academic Affairs who will forward these proposals to the College President

The following questions of policy should begin with the VCCC:

Principles or philosophy regarding general education.

Policies concerning establishment of unit requirements in the general education program, including the total units required and the distribution of units in the various disciplines needed for graduation.

Policies concerning all phases of curricular development, including requirements for occupational certificates.

Principles or standards affecting examinations and grading, including the changing of grades.

Policies concerning student probation, disqualification or readmission as allowed within district and state policies.

All recommended changes in college policy originating in the VCCC shall be routed to all Department Chairpersons prior to their adoption by the VCCC. The Department Chairpersons shall have 10 working days to file any concerns with the VCCC Chairperson.

The following matters should be initiated by the Academic Departments:

Recommendations for the inclusion of courses in General Education.

Addition of new programs or addition of new courses to existing programs.

The number of members serving on each subcommittee is determined by the VCCC.

The composition of each subcommittee includes:

The chairperson (a faculty member of the VCCC)

At least one other faculty member

At least one administrator

Procedures:

All recommendations of a subcommittee are presented to entire VCCC for review, revision, or recommendation vote. All recommendations shall be presented in writing. A majority and/or minority report is included in subcommittee reports.